Bus driver suspended after refusing to drive ‘gay’ bus

A BUS driver refused to drive the bus he had been assigned to because he didn’t want to be associated with Gay Pride.

Some buses in Norwich have rainbow-coloured service numbers to celebrate the 47-year-old festival.

Passenger Rebecca Sears, 19, says the driver told her he wouldn’t drive the number 501 Park and Ride service because of its Gay Pride livery and told her he was going to swap duties with another driver.

"He didn't know if I was gay or the other two women I was with. He just out right said it."

She said: "He said we have to wait a minute, he said I am not driving this bus because it promotes homosexuality.

"I was standing with two other women and we kind of thought he was joking, in a weird way. Like we were just thinking is it really that big of a deal.

"I thought it was all just quite bad, it made us 10 minutes late - which isn't bad when its more a legit reason, but for that sort of reason it is."

The bus company say they have now suspended the driver in question

Rebecca reported the incident to bus station staff: "I said to them that he had gone to swap buses and that it is ridiculous because that is just a ridiculous reason.

"You are stopping people from getting home for such a ridiculous reason. It is really bad.”

She added: "I just hope that he hasn't said that in front of somebody that is gay.

"I would hate to think he would say something to them.

"He didn't know if I was gay or the other two women I was with. He just out right said it."

The bus company now say that the driver, who has not been named but was described by Rebecca as “his 50s with grey hair,” has now been suspended.

Rebecca took to Twitter to tell her story

Rebecca took to social media to air her concerns, tweeting: "Today I was waiting for the 501 bus to Thickthorn and we were told by the driver we had to wait for him to swap buses as "this bus promotes homosexuality and I refuse to drive it" due to the multicoloured "501" sign

"I complained to the staff at the station and they were already aware of who I was talking about, so why has nothing been done? I'm aware everyone is entitled to their own views however, if you can't do your job properly because of your bigotry, maybe you need rethink your choices.

Bus franchise operators Konectbus replied to her post, saying: "Many thanks for getting in touch about this incident.

"Our management team has been made aware and it is being taken very seriously. We find this attitude, behaviour and level of customer service completely unacceptable.

"As a company we do not condone any behaviour from our drivers that does not support this view.

"The driver involved in this incident has been suspended and a full investigation is under way."